Consumption affects every aspect of the contemporary world, from the most intimate moments of everyday life to the great geopolitical struggles that have been set in train by the forces of globalization. Consumer culture has recast the world in its own image, and we are only just beginning to make sense of the enormous social, political, economic, moral, and environmental implications. This Reader offers an essential selection of the best work on the Consumer Society. By drawing from the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, The Consumption Reader presents the history and geography of consumer societies, the social and political aspects of consumer culture, and the discourses and practices of consumption. It reaches back to the consumer revolutions of the eighteenth century and spans the globe. The Consumption Reader focuses in particular on the subjects, objects, spaces, and technologies of consumer societies. In addition to outlining these vital components of consumer societies, it also provides an accessible insight into the theoretical debates that surround the interest in consumption and consumerism.
Students will appreciate The Consumption Reader for its scope, clarity and ease of use. The material is arranged so that it will develop the student's knowledge through a logical progression, but it may also be read selectively so that the student can rapidly get to grips with key issues, ideas, and authors. It brings together a diverse range of topics and theoretical perspectives in a way that is engaging, surprising, and thought provoking. Each section is given introductions and contextual information written by the editors.